Finance Committee on Oct. 6th, 2026

[Mike Mueller]

Under the defence industrial strategy, what we've been calling for is identifying strategic outcomes. If the government has identified this as a strategic outcome, which they have, I think you need to start somewhere. From what I understand, there's quite a bit of opportunity connected to that particular launch site, but on the details, it's probably better to ask the government for those details.

[Eric Lefebvre]

Maritime Launch Services leased land to the Government of Nova Scotia for $13,500 a year. It then leased it to the federal Liberal government for $20 million a year. It's a 10‑year contract for a total of $200 million.

Do you think that's a sound use of Canadians' money?

[Mike Mueller]

I wouldn't be able to comment on the numbers you talked about, just because I'm not aware. I don't know if they're accurate or not.

[Eric Lefebvre]

I can confirm that those are the correct figures.

Madam Chair, I will be sharing my time with my colleague Ms. Jansen.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Mr. Mueller, the Prime Minister says his government is moving “at speeds we haven't seen in generations”. Defence procurement was supposed to be one of those examples, wasn't it?

[Mike Mueller]

I believe so, yes.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

However, less than a year later, DIA is failing, and the fellow who was brought in to lead the charge, Mr. Guzman, looked like he had quit. Now Parliament is being asked, through Bill C-31, to establish the DIA permanently as a stand-alone entity. Is that correct?

[Mike Mueller]

I haven't seen the new legislation, so I don't exactly know, but according to media reports, that seems to be correct, yes.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Before Parliament is even finished doing that, we're hearing reports that the government may restructure the DIA again as a Crown corporation. Has your industry been consulted on that?

[Mike Mueller]

We have been consulted on the Defence Investment Agency. I'm not aware of the exact change to a Crown corporation.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

A year ago, we created an agency to fix an old system. We transferred public servants into it. We hired a private sector CEO, and now we're supposed to make this permanent. Before we pass the bill, we're apparently going to restructure it again as a Crown corporation. Shouldn't Canadians be asking why the answer is already another restructuring, instead of showing us that procurement is moving at speeds not seen in generations?

[Mike Mueller]

We're really looking toward the outcome of what this could bring. Whatever mechanism brings us to the outcome, we would be supportive of it. Again, that outcome is greater with—I'm going to steal a line from my colleague here—a predictable, long-term demand signal, making sure that the governance is appropriate to ensure that these procurements are moving more quickly. Whatever mechanism is best placed to do that, we'd be supportive of.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Would your industry say that a Crown corporation is the way to go?

[Mike Mueller]

Again, I haven't—

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

You were consulted on it, as I understood.

[Mike Mueller]

I haven't looked at that legislation, so I'll maybe reserve my comments specifically on the Crown corporation, but if the Crown corporation does achieve the outcomes that we want, then yes, we'd be supportive.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

You did say that you were consulted. Is that correct?

[Mike Mueller]

I was consulted in general, but not on the specificity of the Crown corporation, in the last couple of days.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

When you say “in general”, what were you consulted on, then?

[Mike Mueller]

It was on what is required with respect to procurement from an industry perspective, ensuring that there's a long-term demand signal and an industrial strategy in place.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

Would you say that your consultation suggested that a Crown corporation would be the best way to go?

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Thank you, Ms. Jansen. That concludes your time.

We will continue now with Mr. MacDonald for five minutes.

[Kent MacDonald, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thanks to the witnesses.

I'm going to start with Mr. Petelle.

It will be no surprise to anyone that I'm bringing up P.E.I. potatoes again, but it's the region I represent.

With the legislation in Bill C-31, the hope is to modify or modernize the oversight model on plant protection products. Can you explain to Canadians why these changes are required?

I hear from stakeholders in the agricultural industry all the time. They're very frustrated by the process of bringing in new products that are already approved in other countries of equal safety jurisdiction. Could you just give an overview of why these changes in legislation are important?

[Pierre Petelle]

Yes. Bill C-31 really only touches on postmarket products. It won't address the issue you raised about—

[Kent MacDonald, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Bill C-30 had the products in—